DJ Slipmatt
Slipmatt, real name Mathew Nelson, now 25, has
established himself as one of the worlds top DJ’s. Not only is the
man known as Slipmatt, but also he is one half of SL2 (the other
being Lime). Slipmatt an Essex man from Loughton left school with no
qualifications, but proved to everyone you don’t always need
qualifications just a talent. We went on a mission to find Mr
Slipmatt, and as he stands 6ft 4 inches tall it didn’t take long to
find him…
Why did you choose Slipmatt as a DJ name?
All my mates were trying to come up with a name for me years ago and
couldn’t think of a decent name. So, I had a pair of slipmats at
home and it had DJ Slipmat written on them. Great name I thought and
I decided to use it.
When did you first start DJing?
The first time I ever had a go at DJing was when I was only 18
months old on my mum’s old record player. To her surprise I never
broke it, but I did once get an electric shock from the record
player.
When did you first start DJing out at events?
I bought my first decks when I was 17 years old, but I didn’t start
playing at events until 1989 when I was 22.
Where did you get your first big break?
Playing for Raindance, I guess I was lucky as at the time my brother
Paul was one of the promoters that made up Raindance.
When did you first become a full time DJ?
It wasn’t until October 1991.
What made you take that jump?
SL2 really, I thought f**k it, go for it.
So when you first left school at 16, what did you do for money?
I started working for my brother, Paul, as a motorbike courier for a
couple of years before going to train as an electrician and I passed
my course. I even used to do all the main electrics for Raindance.
Why did you want to become a DJ?
Well, nobody really inspired me to become a DJ, it was just one of
those things I’ve always wanted to do.
Why do you think you’ve been very successful as a DJ?
I don’t really know, I do love playing to the crowd, I’m never
selfish with the music. I’m at an event to play for the crowd and my
main objective is to please everyone else. Also I do play various
types of house, not just jungle for example, but a variety. These
factors are probably why I have been lucky with my career.
Where do you do most of your DJing?
All over the place, no area in particular.
How many sets do you usually play in a night?
Usually 2 or 3.
What’s the most sets you’ve ever done in a night?
The most I’ve ever been booked up for on a night was 6, but a couple
got cancelled unfortunately.
You are one half of SL2, how did SL2 come about?
Well me and Lime (the other half of SL2) did a track a long time ago
before my career as a DJ took off called Do That Dance. I’ve always
been into music and once Raindance got going we done another track
called Come Up With The Noise followed by DJ’s Take Control and
Ragga Tip, where we got our name from. Lime and I are the perfect
combination as we known each so well, we go right back as friends
since the age of 11.
Have you got any records coming out soon as SL2?
Yes, we are currently working on a new single which is due out in a
couple of week’s time on promo.
Are there any plans for an SL2 album?
Yes, it should be out about June/July time. It will be a 12 track
album. We haven’t started yet, but there will be a few of the old
tracks on it like Ragga Tip, and maybe a remix of Ragga Tip.
Have you made any records outside SL?
No, not at the moment. We have our own label called Awesome Records,
set up in 1990, which has released a few good tunes including
Generator and Freestyle and DJR which are currently out at the
moment.
Have you played abroad at all?
I’ve been to Spain, Holland, Finland, Turkey, Japan, America a
couple of times and Mexico, but most of that was with SL2.
Have you any plans to go abroad in the near future?
We’ve got a job in Holland we might be taking. We did have an
American tour planned, but we won’t be doing that because of the
work we need to do on the album.
When playing abroad, have you found any other countries to be better
than the UK?
No. America wasn’t bad but nowhere is as good as here.
What do you think of the rave scene at the moment?
The scenes not going to die off. Some areas are better than others.
Like London at the moment, it’s very divided, a lot of people are
going to these garage nights. I think a lot of people are a bid fed
up with the music at the moment because it’s too fast and jungley.
Up North it’s kicking. Like Stoke (Kinetic) it’s totally mad.
What do you think of the music out there?
It’s a bit shitty at the moment. A lot of it is a bit too jungley
and too fast. No real music just beats. I love breakbeats, but the
thing is with these breakbeats is they have been going a long time
now and they’ve all been heard before. The music does need a little
bit of change.
Whose fault is it that the music going too fast?
Well it’s the people who make the tunes. When you’re putting
together a record, if it’s not going too well, if you speed it up it
does sound better usually and that’s what’s happening a lot these
days. Also another thing is that because the music now has a lot of
reggae in it, you have to slow the reggae right down to like 140 bpm
to mix it in with the breakbeat. Instead of slowing the reggae down,
they’re just making the breakbeat faster to mix in at around 155bpm
What other types of music do you like apart from Hardcore?
I’ve liked reggae from when I was about 12/13 years old. I also used
to like Hip Hop, but now I don’t really listen to any other type of
music other than hard dance.
Are you pleased with the way your career has gone?
Yes, I can’t complain and if I could go back I wouldn’t change a
thing.
So what’s been your most embarrassing moment as a DJ?
Once I switched the mixer off in the middle of my set. I thought I
was changing the headphones over. It happened right in the middle of
a good bit.
Have you any favourite MC’s you like playing alongside?
The one’s that don’t go on too much, anyone who doesn’t talk too
much and speak when I’m mixing. MC Jay J is good.
Which fellow DJ’s do you rate out there?
It’s hard for me because I’m usually in and out of a club, but I do
rate Seduction, Rat Pack, Rap, Lime, SS, Ratty plus loads more.
What’s your favourite places you like playing at?
I like Kinetic at the Leisure Bowl in Stoke, Milwaukees (Equinox)
near Bedford, Zest, Sterns, Edge and Quest.
What’s your favourite tunes?
I like Top Buzz – Living in Darkness because it’s so original and I
love the Edge No 1.
Finally Slipmatt, any advice for up and comin DJ’s?
Don’t bother at the moment. There’s too many DJ’s out there. You can
break it, but you’ve got to be really exceptional or know the right
people.
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